Loose-leaf binder mechanism



y 14, 1940- J. cooPER 2,201,026

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER MEGHANI SM Filed June 15, 1939 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTORY 7 BY figures 6'00 42;,

ATTORNEYS.

May 14, 1940. J. COOPER 5 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER MECHAIiISM Filed June 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIE- E T'ELKKKQ $1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 14, 1940 uni'rsb STATES LOOSE-LEAF BINDER MECHANISM James Coper,Solvay, N. Y., assignor to Hall &

McChesney Ina, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 15, 1939, SerialNo. 279,327

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to loose-leaf binders of the type disclosed in patent to Cooper & Baule, No. 2,159,009, issued May 23, 1939. The binder referred to comprises a back member, a

cover hinged to each edge of the back member, a plurality of leaf impaling posts extending transversely of the back member, and means for detachably securing the ends of the posts to the back member. When like ends of the posts are detached from the back member, the latter is moved outwardly about the pivot of the opposite cover to permit removal and insertion of the leaves. The binder further includes mechanism operable, upon closing of the opened cover, to 1.5-. move the back member toward the leaves and automatically reattach the posts to the back member. The present invention is directed to improvements on this mechanism.

The invention has an object a loose-leaf binder mechanism automatically operable to effect movement of the back member toward the leaves and to secure the detached ends of the posts to the back member during closing of the open cover, such mechanism embodying a particularly simple and economical structure to render operation of the automatic mechanism positive under all conditions.

The invention consists in the' novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a binder embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, looking to the left Figure 1, with parts broken away and parts in section.

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 1, with one cover moved into open position and the adjacent housing detached from the leaf impaling posts.

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 3, with the back member swung outwardly from the leaves.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the stop member employed to control the operation of the automatic mechanism.

The back member, covers, and arrangement of the housings for attaching the leaf impaling posts to the back member, embody the structure shown in copending application of Cooper &

' Baule, Sr. No. 260,054, filed March 6, 1939. The mi structure of the automatic mechanism is in gen- .eral of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,159,009 to Cooper 81 Baule referred to.

The back member consists of'an outer member 10 of general trough shaped formation provided along each edge with spaced apart hinges. 5 The back member further includes a flat memher i l which may consist of a continuous plate extending lengthwise of the member I 0, or a plurality of individual strap members extending transversely of the back member. In either 10 event, the member H is formed with a plurality of spaced apart hinge eyes. The arrangement is such that the hinge eyes on the straps H are arranged in alinement with the hinge eyes on the outer member l0, and these parts are secured to- 16 gether by a pintle rod 12 extending through the hinge eyes and through hinge eyes 13 formed. on the inner edges of the covers 14.

A tubular housing I 6 is pivotally secured to each edge of the back member. Each of the housings IE is formed with spaced apart hinge eyes H. A plate l8, secured to the straps II, is likewise formed with hinge eyes arranged in alinement with the hinge eyes I! of the housings, and the housings are secured to the plate 13 by pintle rods 20. The leaves 2| are mounted upon a plurality of leaf impaling posts 22. The inner and outer walls of the housing are provided with apertures 23, 24 to receive the ends of the posts, and a retaining member 28 is slidably mounted in 30 each housing. The retaining member 26 is U shaped in cross section and provided at intervals with inwardly extending flanges 21. Upon movement'of the housings 16 into engagement with the ends of the posts 22, the flanges 2i engage recesses 26 formed in the ends of the posts. Upon axial movement of the retaining member 26, relative to the housing It, the flanges 21 are moved out of engagement with the ends of the posts, and the housing is accordingly detached therefrom. When one of the housings is detached fromv the post, as shown in Figure 3, the back member may be swung outwardly from the leaves 2|, as indicated in Figure 4-, to permit removal and insertion of leaves on the posts 22.

The movement of the housing It is controlled by linkage connected to each housing and to the back member. This linkage consists of a link 35 pivoted to each housing as at 36. The links 35 extend through apertures in the plate 48 and in 50 the flat member ll if it is of plate formation. The inner end of each link 35 is pivotally connected to a short link 3?, as at 38. Both of the links 31 are pivotally mounted on a common pivot 39 supported in flanges 40 of a bracket 41 mounted consists of a pair of straps 43 arranged in spaced apart relation, and each of the links 3'! likewise consists of a pair of straps arranged in spaced apart relation on the pivot end 38 adjacent the flanges 48 of bracket 46. The straps, comprising the links 35, 31, are maintained in proper spaced relation by spacers 44 arranged on the pivot pins 33.

When the housings it are attached to the ends of the posts, as illustrated in Figure 1, the links 35, Eli are positioned in angular relationship, and the links 3% are yieldingly urgedoutwardly by a torsion spring 35 arranged on the pivot pin 39 with opposite ends of the spring acting upon the spacers "it carried by the pivot pins 38. Accordingly, when one of the covers is moved to open position and the flanges 21 of retaining member 26 are moved out of engagement with notches 28 in the ends of the posts 22, the housing is moved outwardly about the pivot 28, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. During this pivotal movement of the housing, the arrangement is such that the linkage 35, (il associated with the detached housing, assumes a nearly straight line relation. That is, the-toggle formed by the links 3'! assumes a straightened position.

With the back member swung outwardly, as shown in Figure 4, closing movement of the open cover adjacent the detached housing, causes the inner side of the cover to engage the detached housing. However, pivotal movement of the housing in a counter-clockwise direction is resisted because of the strai htened position of the links 35, 3l.- Accordingly, movement of the cover toward closed position effects pivotal move ment of the entire back member about the opposite cover pivot. Upon engagement withthe plate 18 with the leaves, further pivotal movement of the back member is resisted and the resistance of the straightened toggle is overcome, permitting the toggle to break and effecting pivotal movement of the detached housing relative to the back member during the remaining closing movement of the cover, whereupon the flanges 27 engage the notches 28 on the ends of the posts 22 and the binder is then completely reassembled for use.

The arrangement of the linkage 35, 3'! is disclosed in the patent to Cooper it Baule, No. 2,159,- 009, and per se forms no part of this invention.

The structure, including the linkage described for effecting the automatic closing of the binder, functions in a mo t satisfactory manner'particularly with the back member and cover construction shown in Patent No. 2,159,009, in which structure the housings are mounted on the same pivot as the covers. In that structure, the attached housing always engages and rests against the inner side of the adjacent cover during any pivotal movement of the back member relative to the binder. However, in the structure herein disclosed, the attached housing is not supported by the adjacent cover when the back member is swung outwardly, as shown in Figure 4. This is because the housings are mounted on pivots spaced from the cover pivots, Accordingly, there is a tendency, if the leaves are pressed downwardly, to cant theattached housing about is pivot and to accordingly move the linkage associated with the attached housing toward straightened position.

If the binder is operated in the conventional manner, there is little likelihood that the attached housing would be moved sufiiciently to completely straighten the associated linkage. However, it is possible to intentionally move the attached housing, relative to the back member, sufiiciently to straighten the linkage associated with the attached housing, and in this event when the open cover is moved toward closed position it is uncertain whether the toggle associated with the detached housing, or the toggle associated with the attached housing, will break first. If the latter toggle breaks first, the binder will function properlyand the back member will be swung upwardly to vertical position and the detached housing moved into engagement with the ends of the posts. However, if the toggle associated with the detached housing breaks first, then that housing will move about its own pivot 29 without effecting pivotal movement of the back member.

The essence of this invention consists of means operable automatically to efiect proper operation of the automatic mechanism. This is accomplished by preventing the linkage associated with the attached housing from moving towards straightened position. This means consists of a stop member 50 formed of sheet metal and provided at opposite sides with angularly extending flanges The stop member 5% is slidably mounted within the flanges ll! of bracket ill, with the flanges 5| extending outwardly toward the member It. The stop member 53 is arranged to slide between the pivot pin 39 and the base of the bracket it, see Figure 1. Accordingly, when the book is positioned flatwise on one cover, the stop member drops by gravity towards the surface on which the book is resting until the then upper flange 51 engages the pivot 39, or specifically the spring l5 mounted thereon. In this position, the

opposite flange 5! is arranged to engage the link 35 associated with the lower or attached housing and thereby prevent movement of this link toward the plate It, or to prevent movement of the link 35 and the associated link 3'! toward straightened position. The upper links 35, 3'! are freely permitted to move into straightened position when the top cover is moved to open position, and the upper housing detached from the ends of the posts. The flanges 55 are of complemental formation and accordingly, the stop member functions regardless of which cover the book is resting upon.

The stop member 5!! constitutes a particularly economical and efiioient means for effecting positive action of the automatic mechanisms of looseleaf binders, and is entirely automatic in operatlon itself.

What I claim is:

l. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back memher, a cover hinged along each edge of the back member, a housing pivotally secured to each edge of the back member, a plurality of leaf impaling posts extending transversely of the back member, each of said housings including means operable to detachably secure the housing to like ends of said posts, a link pivotally connected at one end to each of said housings and being pivotally connected at its opposite end to a second link, saidsecond links being pivotally connected to said back member, the links of each pair extending in angular relation when the housing associated therewith is attached to the ends of said posts, spring means cooperable with each pair of links and urging said first links in opposite directions, and urging said housings, when detached from the ends of said posts, outwardly from said posts, the links of each pair being arranged to assume a substantially straight line relation when the housing associated therewith is detached from the posts, and means shiftable into and out of engagement with each pair of said links and operable when in engagement therewith to prevent said pair of links from assuming a straight line relation.

2. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back member, a cover hinged along each longitudinal edge of the back member, and a housing pivotally connected to each edge of the back member, a plurality of leaf impaling posts extending transversely of the back member, each of said housings including means operable to detachably secure like ends of said posts to said housing, a pair of links associated with each of said housings and extending transversely of the back member, said links being pivotally connected'together, one of said links of each pair being pivoted to the back member and the other link of each pair being pivotally connected to one of said housings, the links of each pair assuming an angular relationship when the associated ho-using is attached to the ends of said posts, spring means operable to yieldingly urge said housings outwardly from said posts when said housings are detached from the posts, the links of each pair being arranged to assume a straight line relation upon such outward movement of the associated housing, a stop member arranged in juxtaposition to one pair of said links when the binder is resting on one cover and being shiftable into juxtaposition to said other pair of links when the binder is resting on the opposite cover, said stop member being cooperable with the links of each pair when in juxtaposition thereto to prevent said links from assuming a straight line relation.

3. A loose-deaf binder comprising a back memher, a cover hinged along each longitudinal edge of the back member, and a housing pivotally connected to each edge of the back member, a plurality of leaf impaling posts extending transversely of the back member, each of said housings including means operable to detachably secure like ends of said posts to said housing, a pair of links associated with each of said housings and extending transversely of the back member, said links being pivotally connected together, one of said links of each pair being pivoted to the back member, and the other link of each pair being'pivotally connected to one of said housings, the links of each pair assuming an angular relationship when the associated housing is attached to the ends of said posts, spring means operable to yieldingly urge said housings outwardly from said posts when said housings are detached from the posts, the links of each pair being arranged to assume a straight line relation upon outward movement of the associated housing, a stop member shiftable relatively to said backmember into juxtaposition with one pair of said links and operablein shifted position to prevent the links of said pair from assuming a straight line relation.

i. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back member, a cover hinged along each longitudinal edge of the back member, and a housing pivotally connected to each edge of the back member, a plurality of leaf impaling posts extending transversely of the back member, each of said housings including means operable to detachably secure like ends of said posts to said housing, a pair of links associated with each of said housings and extending transversely of the back member, said links being pivotally connected together, one of said links of each pair being pivoted to the back member and the other link of each pair being pivotally connected to one of said housings, the links of each pair assuming an angular relationship when the associated,

housing is attached to the ends of said posts, spring means operable to yieldingly urge said housings outwardly from said posts when said housings are detached from the posts, the links of each pair being arranged to assume a straight line relation upon such outward movement of the associated housing, a stop member shiftable transversely of the back member and provided with rearwardly extending end portions, said stop member being shiftable by gravity toward the cover on which the binder is resting to position one of said end portions in engagament with the links associated with the housing adjacent said cover, and being operable to prevent said links from assuming a straight line relation.

JAMES COOPER. 

